MacLellan’s Castle.
A 3 Phase Commission from Heritage Environment Scotland.
2022, MacLellan’s Castle, Kirkcudbright has been closed to the public for many years, and is encased in Heras fencing that is causing unrest in the local community. Historic Environment Scotland commission The Imaginarium (The Gallovidian Way’s sister organisation) to consult with and engage the local community around idea generation, exploring possibilities, consulting on preferred methods of delivery for a new creative heritage engagement commission that HES would like to activate for local artists in relation to the castle.
See below for an overview of the 3 Phases as they unfold towards the project’s spectacularly delectable Finale!
The project began with some Research & Development with local cultural heritage experts and enthusiasts, then some archival visits, to uncover lesser known histories associated with Kirkcudbright and MacLellan’s Castle. Bringing in 2 of our emerging young Heritage ReMixers, Morgan Love & Ruaridh ThinSmith as part of our youth engagement strand, who assisted with this part of the project development.
We then commissioned a new piece of poetry from local Scots Poet & Storyteller Susi Briggs, reflecting these histories and herstories. Earth Tae Sky was born. We then produced this into a video, created by another emerging local creative, Ruari Barber-Fleming. This video was utilised to help engage, inspire, and exemplify what is possible when we creatively engage with local heritage, drawing attention to the community engagement exercise we were about to undertake, with the help of some time travelling Gallovidians.
Through online and physical consultations, in person engagement events using interactive Participatory Appraisal techniques in local community venues, the secondary school, local businesses, street work and community groups we gathered consensus around the type of creative engagement activity and creative practice the good folk of Kirkcudbright would like HES to commission for the next Phase of the project.
See below for images from Phase 1 + Overview of Phase 2: Project Delivery . . .
Phase 1: Community Research + Consultation
Phase 2 = commencement of the Commission.
Induction of successful artists
Community Filming Sessions.
Schools Sessions - research, costume + character development
Cooking Demo filming
Food Research
See below for Phase 3 of the commission: The Finale!
Phase 2: The Project Delivery
Phase 3 of the commission: The Finale!
“Cook Up The Castle” at Kirkcudbright’s annual Festival of Light.
